End of the ride

Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley gathered the Gators baseball team together Sunday afternoon in the outfield of Rosenblatt Stadium following their season-ending, 6-2 loss to Texas in the Championship Series and delivered an emotional and animated speech.

Foley told the Gators: Despite falling short of a national title, this Florida team did something just as meaningful. They raised the program's expectations to a new level.

The Gators broke their final huddle of the season visibly moved. Several players were red-eyed. Others had tears streaming down their cheeks. All were determined to take Foley's message home with them.

"Now the bar is set at a new level," senior center fielder Jeff Corsaletti said. "Anyone who comes to play at the University of Florida, the bar is going to be a little bit higher."

The Gators were holding their heads high, but still stinging from their two-game sweep to the Longhorns (56-16). Texas avenged last year's loss to Cal-State Fullerton in the Championship Series, claiming their first national title since 2002. For coach Augie Garrido, the championship was his fifth overall and second at Texas.

"The expectations are high at Texas, but so are the rewards," Garrido said.

Texas used a potent mixture of power and pitching to stymie the Gators in both games. Texas combined to hit four home runs while holding Florida to just four runs on 10 hits in the Championship Series.

"They did a great job of keeping us off balance both days," left fielder Gavin Dickey said.

It culminated Sunday when Texas first baseman Chance Wheeless and third baseman David Maroul each homered. Texas then rode the pitching of starter Kyle McCulloch (12-4) and relievers Randy Boone and J. Brent Cox to the title.

McCulloch no-hit Florida through four innings and struck out eight in 6 innings for his second CWS win. He retired 19 of the first 22 Florida batters. The Gators generated their only offense when right fielder Brian LeClerc hit a two-run home run off McCulloch in the seventh that cut Texas' lead to 6-2. It was LeClerc's 15th home run. But it was too late.

"We did a good job of getting ahead of hitters and putting them away," McCulloch said. "Once we got ahead and put up some runs early, the hitters tend to try to press and then I tried to extend the strike zone."

McCulloch outdueled Florida starter Bryan Ball (7-6), who wasn't too bad himself. Ball, working on three days rest, surrendered three runs, two of which were earned, over 5
innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Ball gave up a run in the second on an RBI single by Maroul and another in the fourth when left fielder Gavin Dickey misplayed a fly ball in left field. He was chased in the sixth when Wheeless blasted a one-out home run to put the Longhorns ahead 3-0.

Maroul then put the game away when he launched a three-run home run off reliever Connor Falkenbach later in the inning to give the Longhorns a 6-0 lead. By then, many of the Longhorns fans who made up much of the crowd of 19,836 were already celebrating.

Maroul was named the CWS' Most Outstanding Player. He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs Sunday and was 6-for-8 with two homers and six RBIs for the series.

Afterward, Falkenbach praised Texas' hitters.

"They didn't swing at bad pitches," Falkenbach said. "They're a great ball club and that's why they're champions today."

Conversely, the Gators hit just .212 during the CWS and only .164 against the Longhorns in the Championship Series. Florida entered the Championship Series hitting .296.

"All year we've been explosive from an offensive standpoint," Ball said. "Our numbers show that. I was surprised."

Florida ends its season with a 48-23 record. It was the farthest the Gators had advanced in the College World Series, and the season will be remembered as the most successful in history.

"A lot of things go through your mind right now," McMahon said. "But these guys are champions."

You can reach Brandon Zimmerman by calling 374-5051 or by e-mail at zimmerb@gvillesun.com.